Posting here for traffic and also cos I really cannot comprehend that nobody seems to want to help.
I run a pub and on Sunday evening we had a gent come in. He was very unkempt and behaving a little oddly but nothing that rang major alarm bells at this point. He ordered a drink and sat down. Over the course of a couple of hours, it became quite obvious that he had some issues, with some odd behaviour (not drink related as he only had 2 pints and made it clear he was simply passing time in the warm).
He was pleasant enough when he approached us and we gleaned that he was planning on going up to the local McDonald's when he left us.
We chalked it up to the colourful tapestry of humanity and thought no more about it.
He's been in again tonight, and again it appears that he seems to have quite clear MH issues. We'd decided to try and find out a little more from him. Over the course of a few hours (he's extremely difficult to have a conversation with), he's admitted that he was working with a local ish organisation that provides support services and assisted living schemes for people with severe MH issues. It isn't clear why he is no longer in the housing as he got quite upset and agitated when he told us he wasn't with them and his behaviour deteriorated (think nervous tics, pacing, muttering and at one point he sat eating butter straight out of the tub).
He eventually calmed down enough to chat a little but wouldn't be drawn on any more personal info. He told us that as he wasn't in a supported living scheme he was warming up with us until we shut, then spending nights at McDonald's and that was where he was going to be living every night as long as poss.
At this point I spoke to a couple of our regulars as we were getting concerned about his welfare and about how vulnerable he was. The consensus was that we should contact adult social care and see if anything could be done to help him as he had admitted he was now homeless, and it was apparent that he had issues that hed probably need support with. By this time he had gone on his way to McDonald's having jumped in a cab, and saying he'd see us tomorrow.
Adult social care have said there was only 2 options, either he had to ring himself and request help or we had to ring 101 and ask them to do a welfare check as we were so concerned, they recommended the 101 option and said they could refer to oit of hours SS if he was indeed vulnerable.
Even if he does turn up again tomorrow, the chances of him being able to hold a phone conversation with them is virtually zilch judging by our interaction over the last couple of nights. So I rang 101, bearing in mind I had confirmed that he'd spent the last 2 nights at McDonald's and had said he was going there tonight (confirmed also that he'd been dropped there by the cab).
I explained the situation and told them that SS had said to ring to request a welfare check. After much talking with their superiors they said they couldnt do it and SS should have picked up the baton or we should ring 111 and ask for a medical welfare check.....
Well they also hummed and hawed and said either SS or call back if he turns up tomorrow so they can do a phone assessment.
I just feel like everyone is passing the buck. Since getting off the phone I've been told that he got very agitated when staff at McDonald's tried to chat to him on Saturday night and his behaviour got to the point, as he got more and more upset, that they threw him out.
Having interacted with him, it's blatantly obvious to me that this guy needs some help. He's obviously had it at some point to be under the care of the organisation that he was. But nobody seems to want to actually do anything. They all agree he's vulnerable and most likely needing help. Ive hit a brick wall and really don't know what else to do.
How can every agency agree he should at least be assessed but refuse to do so?
Any suggestions on how to proceed if he turns up again tomorrow?
TIA